Blog

Lessons learned at age 8

When I was around 8-years-old, growing up in the Midwest, my parents became acquainted with a sweet, elderly woman, who as far as I know had no family close by. Once a week, we would pile into our VW bus and putter across town to see her.

In the spring, my parents plowed and planted a garden in her slopping backyard. During those hot, humid summer months, mom and dad pulled weeds, watered vegetables and spent time visiting with her – this was after spending all morning tending to our own home garden. I helped here and there, but more often than not I escaped into her house, where I curiously milled about, careful not to break the many things she’d collected and displayed over the years.

Each time we visited, she would ask my name all over again. And she often told the same stories she’d told during our last visit – a somewhat frustrating phenomenon for an 8 year old. But I always enjoyed our visits, nonetheless.

When the hospital my dad worked for tried with all its might to buy up land to expand and offered to pay this poor woman pennies for her property, a local TV station ran a story about her. My dad, of course, was behind the anonymous call to reporters. The hospital got their land, despite the public crucifixion, but paid her what it was worth.

At Christmas time, we bundled up in winter coats, scarves and mittens and made a trip to her new place – a tiny one-bedroom, basement apartment miles from her old home.

Bearing gifts and with arms overflowing with canned goods, we stood at her partially opened door, her skeptical eyes starring back at us, as we explained who we were. It had been a couple months and during that time she had simply misplaced us. Thankful, she opened the door and let us in one last time.

This holiday season, consider sharing a story about someone who has left an impression on you, a lesson you’ve learned, an experience you’ve had, a tradition you share. I think we’re all the better for it.

Happy holidays.

Written by Jeneca Jones filed under: Blog - Life Dec 09 2009

20 Under 40 Awards

What a great time we had seeing our very own Lindsey step to the podium to accept a 20 Under 40 Award at the Eugene Hilton last night! Lindsey is one of 20 young professionals under the age of 40 doing great things at work and in the community.

After quickly climbing the ranks from an entry-level Account Coordinator three years ago to Production Manager today, Lindsey manages the day-to-day operations of CAWOOD’s creative departments.

Perhaps the most astounding professional aspects of Lindsey are her quick and significant growth, her leadership and her follow through. She’s like a sponge, always absorbing information and feedback and incorporating it into her work. Relying on her strong organizational skills and attention to detail, Lindsey excels in her position. And there’s no limit to where she will go.

A champion for change, Lindsey carries a torch for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Over the last two years, she has dedicated an amazing about of time and energy to Oregon Imaging Centers’ “Go Pink in the Park” events. These fundraisers brought in thousands of dollars to assist women in Lane County who cannot afford annual mammograms, or who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Always positive and sincere, Lindsey embraced each event with passion. Donating hours of work for weeks on end, she coordinated all of the details, often working late into the night – all with the goal of raising the awareness of breast cancer and early detection. There have been several smaller events in association with Go Pink, and Lindsey has taken the lead on all of them. She has worked hard to find ways to make the topic of breast cancer lighthearted and fun to engage people and get the conversation started.

As soon as Lindsey learned that Komen was bringing Race for the Cure to Eugene in 2010, she volunteered to serve on the steering committee. Spurred by her enthusiasm, CAWOOD signed on to donate pro bono PR services to generate local interest in the event. In addition to leading CAWOOD’s pro bono efforts, Lindsey plans to donate hundreds of hours of her own time.

Most recently, Lindsey signed up to be a volunteer mentor through the University of Oregon Alumni Association, working with students who are charting their career paths. Having only been on the job three years, she offers students and recent graduates a unique perspective on the work world.

In her personal life, Lindsey nurtures a commitment to friends, family and her alma mater, the University of Oregon – she’s a huge Ducks fan!

An ideal role model, Lindsey is an up-and-coming, well-rounded young professional. Her work ethic, commitment and desire to grow will continue to reap rewards for herself, CAWOOD and our community.

Way to go, Lindsey!

Written by Jeneca Jones filed under: Blog - Community Dec 09 2009

Commuting Challenges

The days are getting shorter, and with the shift back to standard time, all of us at the office have complained more than once about the dark, dreary evening commute. It doesn’t help when the streets are clogged with fallen leaves and flooded with the rainwater from recent storms.

While we take our Vitamin D to stave off the lack of sunlight, and dig our raincoats and boots out of the back of the closets, one of the chief complaints we’re hearing is how difficult it is to navigate the narrow streets around our offices without experiencing a heart-stopping near-miss with a bicyclist. As determined as we all are to share the road and be supportive of cyclists who diligently brave all weather conditions to exercise while they commute, it is hard when we can’t see each other because of poor or nonexistent lighting, dark clothing, and no reflective gear.

Our leader, Liz, is never one to sit idly by, so recently she invested in a case of high-quality rear bicycle flashers – those really cool ones you see clipped to backpacks or bike helmets of the seasoned bicyclists around town. Our assignment: find cyclists who could benefit, and give them away. Pronto.

Staying true to our motto that “small change adds up,” each of us attempted to do our part over the past couple weeks, with mixed success. Some of us just couldn’t find a subtle way to flag a stranger down and hand them a strange little box. Some of us worried about risking our own necks, jumping out of our vehicles in a busy street to get the attention of an understandably leery bike commuter. What’s the proper form of address for someone on a bike – “Hey, you – Biker?”

So far, only three of those fancy lights have made it to good homes. Yet, that’s three more bikes that have lights. We’re doing our part to help our streets get a little safer and prevent one of those future near-miss moments. It’s a step in the right direction, and step we’re glad to take.

Written by Jodie Rogers filed under: Blog - Community Nov 30 2009